Manly prop Tanginoa 'could be anything': Taupau

Share on social media

Hard-running Manly forward Kelepi Tanginoa has struggled for regular first-grade starts in his five-year NRL career to date but has the potential to be a breakout star at the Sea Eagles, according to senior prop Martin Taupau.

The 24-year-old played 17 Telstra Premiership games in five seasons at the Parramatta Eels, then North Queensland Cowboys, then Eels again before joining the Sea Eagles in 2017 where he only made one NRL appearance.

He was included on the bench by coach Trent Barrett for round one this year against the Newcastle Knights, producing an impressive 113 metres, three busts, one offload and 19 tackles in his 46 minutes.

"He's had a massive off-season, he's been playing really well in the trials and especially in round one, he racked up 100 metres off the bench. He's done really really well and I can see a lot of improvement in him.

"I think he has grabbed it with both hands and he's not going to take a step backwards. He's a really hard man to tackle, he's a ball of muscle.

"He could be anything. He's fit, he's fast, he's strong, the sky's the limit. It all comes down to the individual. He's got some great teammates around him. He's got an amazing family and a lot of supporters behind him so you can't go wrong there."